Menopause is associated with an increase in vasomotor, genitourinary, and musculoskeletal symptoms as well as sleep and mood disturbance.

Menopause is also associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

While pharmacological agents are available to treat postmenopausal symptoms, many nonpharmacological options are also available.

Learning objectives:

To review the current nonpharmacological agents that are available for the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms.

To review nonpharmacological options for prevention of diseases that occur at an increased incidence after menopause.

Ethical issues:

While hormone replacement therapy is highly effective in the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms, it is associated with health risks and is not considered first-line treatment.

Nonpharmacological therapies, including herbal agents, have emerged as options in the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms and are commonly used by postmenopausal women. However, herbal agents are not regulated in many countries, and therefore the contents of a given product varies from sample to sample.